Sampling mechanism for can top feeding apparatus



July 1, 1952 R. K. POTTLE 2,601,785

SAMPLING MECHANISM FOR CAN TOP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 50, 1946 5Sheets-Sheet l IN V EV TOR.

ma am July 1, 1952 R. K. PQTTLE 2,601,785

' SAMPLING MECHANISM FOR CAN TOP FEEDING APPARATUS INVENTOR July 1, 1952R. K. POTTLE 0 SAMPLING MECHANISM FOR CAN TOP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed001;. 50, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS SAMPLING MECHANISMFOR CAN TOP FEEDING APPARATUS R. K. POTTLE July 1, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet'4 Filed Oct.

INVENTOR.

A r TOE/VEKS SAMPLING MECHANISM FOR CAN TOP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Oct.50, 1946 R. K. POTTLE July 1, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q M MS my 5 v M 4 Jw a o l 3 1. m m M k L m Y C E 6 g B a Q A Q Q 1e Q x s m o N A 5 7% L.Nun

Q N \m w R m f l \N EW .2 m M 7/ 7 3w S w E g A u B wt R m E Q Q. it 3 83 $1 3 a N x Q. Li

Patented July 1 1952 SAMPLING MECHANISMFORCAN TOP FEEDING APPARATUSRaiph Pottie, New York} N. assig'iior to Amman-can Company, New York; N.Ya; a coiiifiration anew J ersei' Appiieamn October so, 1946. seriaiNo.701%,683

14 Claiiins.

The present i iiiieiitioni'elatesto a-macnineior counting and re mg"flat articles-sum as can ends an the like 'a'rifdliasarnciusrrererenceto a machine in which some or the articles are diverted'i'oi' inspetien purposes at the termination of each counter apiedteiinined number of articles. I I

An object of the ini/e'htion'isfthe provision of a counting and feedingmachine wheiein fiat articles are fed in a eqnu'nuous procession withoutany interruption diifingcduhtiiig of a piedetermined hufrib'ei ofarticles and'tlien the counted articles elf'adi ahced alor'ig 'a'path ortravel for subsequent operatioiiior for packing and storing. I I

Another object istne piovisi'onof such a machine wherein a predeterm nedniiinbr' of articles are divertedfof inspection purposes afterthecompletion of everycountsothat acheck may be had on the articles-bingaovaneea; v

Numerous other ohjcts' and advantages of the invention will beappafentas it-is'bett'r understood from the renewing description, which,taken in conne'tion with the actioinpaniring drainrings, discloses apiefe'tred embodiment thereof.

Referring to' the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodyingthe instant invention,with'pai'ts Broken away;

Fig. 2 is a'ldngitu'cliijalsection takensubstantially along the me 2: 2in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is atransverse section taken substantially along the brdkenline3-'-'3 in Fig; 2, with parts broken away; I

Fig. 4 is'a tep'plan'sejction takensubstafitially along the line lli'nFig.2, with parts broken away; v

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation showing a clutch detail, with partsbroken away and parts in section; I I

Fig. 6 is an end elevation "as viewed from the left in Figs. land 2',with partsbraken back and parts shown in section; I

Fig. '7 is a new ermrmnemgs and showing a modified former the invention,parts being broken away; I II Fig. 8 is a fragrnentafy top plan View ofthe machine shown i'ri Figll'i; and I I Fig. 9 is a 'sectionalview'takenjsubstantiaily along the broken line =-9 in Fig. 7;-

As a pr ferred emeediment of the instaiitinvenue 1'1 the-drawingsillustrate a maehme for 2 meta-1 can ends Aerie-tor advancing them alonga line of travel for other'op'erations or for packing into containersfor shipment and storage. In the instant invention 250 can ends arecounted outand advanced andfollowing'this, two or more ends as the casemay require, are set aside for inspetion purposes. I

The operation of the machine is continuous, the counting, feeding andinspecting operations being effected without any interruption in the newof can ends throughthemachine. The can ends A to-be counted and advancedare received from any suitable source of supply in a continuousprocession. If desired these can ends may'come 'di'rectlyfro'm thepresses which produce them.

The can ends asthe'si are received in the machine fall into position ontop of a stack of such ends located in a magazine 2| (Figs. 1, 2 and'fi)which is bolted to a plate22 mounted on top of a frame 23 whichconstitutes the main frame of the machine. Guide *rods Z4 secured in thetop of the magazine keep the ends in place on the stack.

The c-anerids in the magazine are disposed at an a-n'gle to thehorizontal; the lowermost can end in the stack being siipported at twooppositely disposed point-s adjacent its outer edge transversely 6f themachine. The lowermost edge portion of this can end rests on astationary step Eifo'rhjdiha guide iai-l 2f! securedto the plate 22 andextending through the magazine 2|. The opposite upperedgeportion or thecanend rests one. ledge of a fotatab lciit on knife or element 29 whichdisposed in an opening 3| m the side or the ihagafiiiie.

The cut-off knife 29 is cylindrical in shape and is formed with a Widespiral thread 32 which eiten'ds out team is anextensmn of the ledge 2'8;This afrafignientpiovides a Wedge shaped cut -off blade 30,:Whichisihduntd on the upper end ofa drive shaft 34 jdurna'le'dinbearings 35 formed in the plate '22 ahdinthefrarne '23. The

shaft is rotated continuously in any suitable manner in tirne With theother moving parts of the machine. This is a conventional cut 'offdevice used inrnahy cah-inakihg rnachines.

Rotation of thecutoffkifiif 29 separates the avo-iowermost -can ends atthe bottom of the stack in the-magaz1ne This is effected by the rotatingcut-ofiblade seat the upper end of the groove 32, cuttihgin between thesecond can end from the "bottom and theean endneiat above;

Hence for each rotationof the cut-off knife 2%, one pair or twocanends-as a unitare' separated item the remaining ends the stack andare mvd ddWfi through the s'iiiiil 'gffJOV' in the knife. The guide rail27 functions as a hinge point. At the lowermost end of the spiral groove32 the pair of can ends drop free of the cut-off knife and come to reston the plate 22. They are then in an opposite inclined position with theone edge portion still supported on the step 26 of the guide rail 2'!and the opposite edge portion supported on the plate 22. A shoulder 37on the bottom of the cut-off knife temporarily retains the two ends inthis position.

While in this downwardly inclined position the pair of can ends are fedas a unit from the magazine 2i and are advanced along a straight linepath of travel for subsequent operations or for packing as hereinbeforementioned. This advancement of the can ends is effected by a pluralityof spring held feed dogs H (Figs. 1 and 2) which are disposed in spacedrecesses 42 formed in a reciprocating feed or stroke bar 43 (see alsoFig. 6). of the machine for substantially its full length in an opening45 formed in the plate 22. The bar operates in a slide-way 46 formed inthe machine frame 23.

The feed bar 63 is reciprocated through a forward or feeding stroke andthence through a return stroke in time with the separation of the canends from the stack within the magazine, there being one feeding strokefor each pair of can ends. For this purpose the feed bar is formed wi h.a pair of depending lugs 48 (Fig. 2) which carry a pivot pin 49 mountedin one end of a short link The opposite end of the link is pivotallycarried on the upper end of an actuating arm 52. This arm is mounted ona pivot pin 54 carried in a pair of spaced bearing blocks 55 (see alsoFig. 4) which extend inwardly from the machine frame 23.

Intermediate its ends, the arm 52 is pivotally connected to the outerend of a crank link 56. The inner end of the link is mounted on a crankpin 57 secured in a crank disc 58 (see Figs. 2

and 4) keyed to a rotatable drive shaft 59 which may be the main driveshaft of the machine. The drive shaft is journaled in a long bearing 62formed on the machine frame 23. This drive shaft is rotated continuouslyin any suitable manner, as for example through a gear 63 (Fig. 4), at aspeed which gives it one rotation for each pair of can ends separated bythe cutoff knife 29 from th bottom of the stack of ends in the magazine2|. Thus the speed of the drive shaft is timed with the separation ofthe can ends. This provides proper reciprocation of the feed bar 43 intime with the separation of the can ends.

On a forward or feeding stroke of the feed bar 43 its feed dog 4|engaging behind the pair of can ends A separated from the stack in themagazine 2| advances these two can ends along the guide rail 21 and acooperating parallel rail H which is disposed adjacent the cut-off knife29. A clearance opening 12 formed in the side of the magazine adjacentits base permits of this feeding of the can ends from the magazine. Thestep 26 of the rail 21 is tapered downwardly along this path of travelso that the pair of can ends shifts from an inclined position into ahorizontal position as the ends advance along the rail.

At the end of the feeding stroke, the feed bar d3 moves back through areturn stroke to its original position, leaving the fed pair of can endsin their advanced position for further advancement on succeeding strokesof the feed bar. Guide rail extensions 13, 14 of the rails 21, H are Thestroke bar extends longitudinally 4 provided for guiding the can endsthrough the machine durin succeeding strokes of the feed bar.

At the time the feed bar begins this back stroke the next pair of canends to be advanced has already been separated from the remainder of thestack in the magazine. Hence during the return stroke, the feed dog'filengages this separated pair of ends and is depressed as the dog 7travels back under them.

The separated can ends are held against backward movement during thistravel of the feed dog, by a pair of holding fingers 15 (Figs. 1 and 2)which are located one on each side of the separated can ends. The canends in advance of the first pair are held by pairs of similar fingersE5. These fingers are mounted on pivot pins 11, one of which is securedin the guide rail 21 while the others are fastened in the plate 22. Acoil spring I8 around each' pin normally holds the fingers in aninwardly projected position. A stop pin 19 adjacent a tail piece on eachof the fingers 15, and secured in the plate 22, limits the inward travelof the fingers 15. In like manner a necked-in portion of the two guiderail extensions 13, 14 adjacent a tail piece of each finger it permitstheir travel. Both of these stop elements permit outward movement for apurpose which will be hereinafter explained.

In the instant machine, 250 can ends are to be counted out and advancedbefore diversion of the can ends for inspection purposes. This is theequivalent of 125 unitary pairs of can ends as fed from the magazine 21by the feed bar 43. Thus the feeding of 250 can ends requires half thenumber of feeding strokes of the feed bar.

The counting of these required can ends and strokes of the feed bar 43is effected by a simple gear counting mechanism which includes aproperly proportioned continuously operating gear train and a clutchdevice. For this purpose the drive shaft 59 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) carrieson its outer end a pinion 82 which meshes with and drives anintermediate idler gear 83. The idler gear is mounted on a short idlershaft 84 journaled in a bearing 85 formed in the machine frame 23. Theidler shaft is continuously rotated.

The idler shaft 84 carries a driving pinion 81 which meshes with anddrives a cam shaft gear 83. This gear is loosely mounted on one end of anormally stationary cam shaft 89 whichcarries a one revolution clutch 99(Figs. Band 5). The cam shaft is carried in bearings 9| formed in themachine frame 23. The gear 89 rotates continuously at a speed 21 timesslower than the feed bar drive shaft 59. In other words the cam shaftgear makes one revolution for every 21 revolutions of the drive shaftand for the feeding of 21 sets or pairs of can ends. I

The cam shaft gear 88 is formed integrally with a driving pinion whichmeshes with and drives a clutch gear 96. This clutch gear is mounted ona short shaft 91 which is journaled in a long bearing 98 formed in themachine frame 23. This clutch gear completes the counting gear train andis continuously rotated at a speed of one revolution for every pairs ofcan ends fed by the feed bar 43.

Hence during one complete cycle of operation of the machine, thereciprocating feed bar 43 continuously feeds 125 pairs of can ends Awhile the counting gear train operates to rotate the clutch gear 96through one complete revolution.

As the feed bar 43 moves forward through its S 125th feeding stroke andthusadvances the 125th pair of can ends, the clutch gear 96 completesits singlerevolutiom Thereupon the clutch 90 is operated and this setsthe cam shaft 89 into motion for one complete revolution.

Operation of the clutch 90 is effected by acam IOI (Figs. 3, 4 and whichis formed on the side of the clutch gear 95. The cam operates against acam roller I02 which is carriedon the upper end of a lever I03. Thelower end ofthe lever is mounted on a rocker shaft I04 carried in a pairof spaced bearings I 05 which depend from the machine frame 23. Betweenthe bearings the rocker shaft I04 carries aflapper plate I31 of theclutch 90.

The flapper plate IIlI normallyis in a position to engage against aclutch dog I I I (Fig.5). The dog is pivotally mounted in arecessIIZ'formed in a clutch barrel I I3 of the clutch 90. The clutch barrelis secured to the cam shaft .89. The dog within the recess H2 is backedup by a spring barrel I I5 located in a bore in the. clutch barrel II3.

As the clutch gear 95 approaches the end of its single revolution, itscam IBI rocks the lever I83 and the flapper plate I01 inwardly. Thismovement of the flapper plate releases the clutch dog II I from itsflapper plate engaging position and hence its spring barrel II5 forcesthe dog outwardly. The clutch dog thus engages the inner surface of aclutch ring III which surrounds the clutch barrel and which is formed onthe continuously rotating cam shaft gear 83. The outer end of thereleased clutch dog immediately falls into a notch I I8 formed in therotating clutch ring Hi. This looks the gear 88 and the cam shaft 89together for one complete rotation of the cam shaft.

During this one revolution of the cam shaft 89 the flapper plate IIi'Iis returned to its normal position so as to reengage the clutch dog IIIat the end of the rotation. Engagement of the dog releases it from theclutch ring notch Ila and the cam shaft thereupon stops while the gear88 continues to rotate through a new cycle.

The single rotation of the cam shaft 89 effects the discharge from themagazine 2I of one pair of can ends for inspection purposes, ashereinbefore mentioned. This is brought about by a discharge dog I2 I(Figs. 1, 2 and 6) which is pivotally mounted in a recess I22 formed inthe feed bar 43 adjacent and to the rear of the feed dog 4 I. This dogis normally depressed below the upper surface of the feed bar and henceis inactive during the feeding of the 125 pairs of can ends.

Intermediate its ends, the dischargedog I2I is formed with a dependingarm I23 (Figs, 2 and 6) which carries a roller I24. Theroller I24 of thedischarge dog is disposed adjacent a longitudinal track I26 whichextends along and below the path of travel of the feed bar 43. Thistrack is formed on the outer end of a lever 12! (see also Fig. 4) whichis mounted on a pivot shaft I28 carried in a pair of spaced bearings.I29 formed on the machine frame 23. This lever is formed with an innerarmI3I which. carries a cam roller I32. The cam roller operates againstan edge cam I33 mounted on the cam shaft 89. A spring I34 stretched fromthe arm I3I to a pin I35 in a lug I36 of the bearing 85, keeps the camroller in engagement with the cam. I

During normal operation of the feed bar 43 the roller I24 of thedischarge dog I2I is out of engagementwith the track I26 andthiskeepsthedog depressed so that it readily passes under the can ends in themagazine 2|. However, just as soon as thefeed bar 43 begins the returnstroke following its th feeding stroke, which is coincident with thebeginning of the rotation of the cam shaft89, the cam roller I32 onthearm I3I falls into a notch I38 (Fig. 2) in the cam I33 and thisrocks'the lever I21 upwardly. This upward movement of the lever lifts thetrack I26. The track engages and raises the dog roller I24 and thislifts the discharge dog I2I alcove the top surface of the feed bar.

With the discharge dog I2I in an elevated positionduring the 125threturn stroke of the feed bar, the dog engages and discharges from themagazine 2I the 126th pair of can ends A. The dogpushes this pair ofendsbackward, past the holding fingers I5 (Figs. 1 and 2), through anopening in the side of the magazine and delivers these ends into a chute'I4I secured to the machine frame 23. The chute directs these two canends to any suitable place of deposit for inspection purposes.

As soon as the discharge dog I2I has delivered the 126th pair of canends into the chute I4I for inspection, thecam roller I32 of the arm I3Irides out of the cam notch I38. This rocks the lever I21 back into itsoriginal position and thus permits thedischarge dog I2I to fall backinto its depressed position in the feed bar. I

Since the 126th pair of can ends has been diverted for inspectionpurposes on the 125th back stroke of the feed bar 43, thereare noseparated can ends ready in the magazine to be fed forward on the nextfollowing or 126th feeding stroke of the feed har. Hence on this strokeof the feed bar no can ends are fed forward. This creates a space orskip in the continuous feeding operation of the feed bar and thus marksthe termination of one feeding cycle of 125 pairs of can ends. The camshaft 89 upon the completion of this cycle ceases rotation, throughwithdrawal of the clutch dog I II as hereinbefore mentioned, and remainsstationary through the following feeding operations of the feed bar 43until another batch of 250 can ends have :been counted out and advancedasdescribed above.

As a modified form of the invention, Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawingsillustrate a machine which is similar to the preferred form justexplained but in which the means for discharging the can ends forinspection purposes are slightly different. In this modified form of theinvention the guide rails I3, I4 along which the can ends A advance inpairs, are cut short and terminate adjacent a continuing movableplatform I5I disposed in a recess formed in the plate 22. This platformis formed on the upper ends of a pair of arms I52 projecting upwardlyfrom a hub I53 carried on a shaft I54 journaled in a pair of spacedbearing brackets I55 depending from the table of the main frame 23.

The hub I53 is formed with a depending cam arm I58 which carries a camroller I53 which operates against an edge cam I6I mounted on the camshaft 89 in place of the usual cam I33. A spring I62 holds the camroller against the cam. One end of the spring is hooked into one of theplatform arms I52 while the other end is secured to a pin I64 secured inthe table of the main frame. The cam IIiI, like the cam I33 in thepreferred form of the invention, is normally stationary and thus holdsthe platform stationary.

Generics-advancedalong the guide rails 13, I4

by the stroke bar 43" are deposited on the platform II on the forwardstroke of the bar by the last feed dog on the bar. These canends are immediately picked up from the platform for further advancement, byfeeding devices comprising a pair of spaced and parallel, verticallydisposed feed screws or Worms I68 located above and adjacent oppositesides of the platform.

The feed screws I68 are mounted on vertical shafts IE9, the lower endsof which extend through the plate 22 and are journaled in bearingsformed in the table of the main frame 23. The screws are continuouslyrotated in unison and in opposite directions by bevel gears III whichare carried on the lower ends of the screw shafts. These gears mesh withand are driven by driving gears I12 carried on a drive shaft I73 journaled inbearings formed in the main frame. The drive shaft I13 isrotated in any suitable manner in time with the other movable parts ofthe machine.

Hence as a pair of can ends A are received on the platform IEI, the feedscrews I68 immediately pick them up and convey them upwardly to asuitable place of deposit. The moving can ends are guided during thisvertical travel by a plurality of vertically disposed guide bars I15disposed adjacent the screws. There are four of these guide bars andthey are carried in brackets I15 bolted to the plate 22.

As in the preferred form of the invention, 125 pairs of can ends A areadvanced along the guide rails 73, I4 and are picked up. by the feedscrews I68 before the one revolution clutch 90 is tripped to set the camshaft 89 in operation to throw out one or more pairs of following canends for inspection purposes. This tripping of the clutch 96 is effectedjust as the stroke bar i3 is about to move forward through its 126thstroke to deliver the 126th pair of can ends .onto the platform I5I.

Setting of the cam shaft 39 into motion by the tripping of the clutch Irotates the cam I6I through one revolution. As soon as the cam begins toturn, the cam roller I59 rides up onto a long high portion of the camand this immediately rocks the platform I5l downwardly into an inclinedposition as shown in dotted lines in Fig. '7. In this position, theplatform is below and in spaced relation to the lower level of the feedscrews I68 and its forward end is in alignment with a downwardlyinclined discharge chute I8I secured to the main frame 23. This movementof the platform takes place just as the stroke bar begins to moveforward on its 126th stroke. The platform remains in this depressedposition for approximately three quarters of the revolution of the camI6 I, which is sufficient time to permit the stroke bar 43 to completeits forward stroke and to move back through about one half of its returnstroke.

Hence the stroke bar 43 delivers the 126th pair of can ends onto thedepressed,'incline positioned platform and instead of these ends beingpicked up by the feed screws I68, the ends pass directly over theplatform and enter the discharge chute I8 I. The chute directs them toany suitable place of deposit for inspection purposes. It is in thismanner that certain of the can ends after the completion of each countof 125 pairs, are diverted for inspection purposes.

Just before the cam IBI completes its one revolution, the cam roller I59rides off the high portion of the cam. This returns the platform I5I toits normal can end receiving position for the 8 reception of the next125 pairs of can ends to be picked up by the feed screws I68. Theplatform is in this position when the stroke bar 43 completes its 126threturn stroke.

As soon as the bar completes this return stroke the clutch operates tostop the rotation of the cam shaft 89 as in the preferred form of theinvention. The cam IBI thereupon comes to rest and thus holds theplatform I5I in its elevated position as described above for theduration of the feeding of the next batch of can ends.

It is thought that the invention and. many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combinationof a magazine for holding a supply of articles, a reciprocable feed baradjacent said magazine, actuating devices for moving said feed barthrough a feeding stroke and a return stroke, means on said feed bar foradvancing the articles, means for counting a plurality of feedingstrokes of said feed bar to advance a predetermined number of articles,discharge means also on said feed bar and operable only on a returnstroke after said predetermined number of articles has been advanced,and means connected with said counting means for operating saiddischarge means to divert from said magazine a second number of articlesfor inspection purposes.

2. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combinationof a magazine for holding a supply of articles, a reciprocable feed baradjacent said magazine, actuating devices for moving said feed barthrough a feeding stroke and a return stroke, a feed dog on said feedbar for advancing the articles, means for counting a plurality offeeding strokes of said feed bar to advance a predetermined number ofarticles, a

normally inactive discharge dog also on said feed bar and operable onlyon a return stroke after said predetermined number of articles has beenadvanced, and means connected with said counting means for activatingsaid discharge dog to divert from said magazine other articles forinspection purposes.

3. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combinationof article supplying means, a reciprocable feed bar adjacent saidarticle supplying means, actuating devices for moving said feed barthrough a feeding. stroke and a return stroke, a feed dog on said feedbar for advancing from said article supplying means during a pluralityof feeding strokes a predetermined number of articles, a normallyinactive discharge dog also on said feed bar and operable only on areturn stroke after said predetermined number of articles has beenadvanced for diverting from said article supplying means a secondpredetermined number of articles for inspection purposes, and means foractivating said normally inactive discharge dog on said return strokefor bringing it into article diverting position.

4. In a machine for counting and feeding fiat articles, the combinationof articles supplying means, a reciprocable feed bar adjacent saidarticle supplying means, actuating means for moving said feed :barthrough a feeding strok and a return stroke, means 01.15am feed her foradvancing fromsaid articlesupplying means during a plurality offeedingstrokesa predetermined number of articles, normally inactivemeans also on said feed bar and operable only on a return strokeafter'saidpredetermined number of articles has been advanced fordiverting from said article supplying means ausecondpredetermined numberof articles for inspection purposes, and means for activating saidnormally inactive means on said return stroke for rendering ityoperablefor diverting said, articles from said article supplying means.

5. In a machinefor counting and feeding flat articles, the combinationof article supplying means, a reciprocable feed bar adjacent saidarticle supplying means, actuating devices for moving said feed barthrough a feeding stroke and a return stroke, means on said feed bar foradvancing a predetermined number of articles from said article supplyingmeans during a plurality of feeding strokes, a normally inactivedischarge dog carried in said feed bar in a depressed position, andmeans operable on a return stroke of said feed bar following theadvancement of said predetermined numberof articles for raising saidinactive discharge dog into operative position for diverting fromsaidarticle supplying means a second predetermined number of articlesfor inspection purposes.

6. In a machine for counting and feeding fiat articles, the combinationof article supplying means, a reciprocable feed bar adjacent saidarticle supplying means, actuating devices for moving said feed barthrough a feeding stroke and a return stroke, means on said feed bar foradvancing from said article supplying means during a plurality offeeding strokes a predetermined number of articles, a normally inactivedischarge dog carried in said feed bar in a depressed position, anactuating element carried on said inactive discharge dog, and meansoperable on a return stroke of said feed bar following the advancementof said predetermined number of articles and engageable with saidactuating element on said inactive discharge dog for raising said doginto operative position for diverting from said article supplying meansa second predetermined number of articles for inspection purposes.

7. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combinationof a magazine for holding a supply of articles, a reciprocable feed baradjacent said magazine, actuating devices for moving said feed barthrough a feeding stroke and a return stroke, means on said feed bar foradvancing from said magazine during a plurality of feeding strokes apredetermined number of articles, a normally inactive discharge dogcarried in said feed bar in a depressed position, an actuating elementcarried on said inactive discharge dog, actuating means engageable withsaid actuating element for raising said discharge dog into operativeposition for diverting from said magazine a second predetermined numberof articles for inspection purposes, and cam means operable in time withsaid feed bar actuating devices for bringing said actuating means intoengagement with the discharge dog on the return stroke of said feed barfollowing the advancement of said predetermined number of articles forseparating articles for inspection purposes.

8. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combinationof article supplying means, means for separatingsaid articles from saidarticle supplying means, an article support adjacent said articlesupplying meansforretaining the separated articles in a predeterminedposition, feeding means for engaging and advancing a predeterminednumber of said articles along said support after they are separated fromsaid article supplying means, counting means connected with said feedingmeans for counting the feeding operations of said feeding means to countout a predetermined number of articles advanced, and means moved by saidcounting means and operable after the advancement of all of said countedarticles for diverting a subsequently separated number of articles frombeyond the engagement of said feeding means to leave said articles forinspection purposes.

9. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combinationof article supplying means, a platform for receiving the articles fromsaid article supplying means, counting means for counting out apredetermined number of articles received on said platform, feedingdevices disposed adjacent said platform for removing the receivedarticles from said platform and for advancing the same, shifting meansconnected between said platform and said counting means for shiftingsaid platform away from said feeding devices after the advancement ofsaid predetermined number of articles to divert thenext receivedarticles away from said feeding devices, and means for removing thediverted articles from said platform for inspection purposes.

10. In a machine for counting and feeding fiat articles, the combinationof a source of supply of articles, feeding means for advancing saidarticles from said source of supply, a platform for receiving thearticles from said feeding means, feeding devices disposed adjacent saidplatform for removing the received articles from said platform forfurther advancement, counting means for counting the feeding operationsof said feeding means to count out a predetermined number of articlesadvanced into said feeding devices, means operable by said countingmeans for shifting said platform for diverting a said article from saidfeeding devices for inspection purposes after the advancement of saidpredetermined number of articles, and means for receiving said divertedarticles.

11. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combinationof article supplying means, an article support located adjacent saidarticle supplying means and extending laterally therefrom, means forseparating said articles from said article supplying means and forpositioning them on said support, feeding means for advancing theseparated articles along said article support, a gear train connectedWith said feeding means for counting the feeding operations of saidfeeding means to count out a predetermined number of articles advanced,a onerevolution clutch operable by said gear train at the termination ofa count of said predetermined number of articles, cam means operable bysaid clutch through a predetermined cycle, and means operable by saidcam means for removing from said support a second number of articles forinspection purposes. I

12-. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, thecombination of article supplying means, an article support locatedbeneath said article supplying means and extending laterally therefrom,means for separating articles from said article supplying means and fordepositing the articles on said support, feeding means for advancing theseparated articles along said support, counting means connected withsaid feeding means for counting the feeding operations of said feedingmeans to count out a predetermined number of articles advanced, and avertically oscillatable member moved by said counting means and havingcooperation with said feeding means after the advancement of saidpredetermined number of articles for removing articles for inspectionpurposes from said support.

13. In a machine for counting and feeding flat articles, the combinationof article supplying means, an article support located adjacent saidarticle supplying means and extending laterally therefrom, means forseparating said articles from said article supplying means and forpositioning them on said support, feeding means operable longitudinallyof said support for ad-.

vancing the separated articles from said article supplying means,counting means connected with said feeding means for counting thefeeding operations of the feeding means to count out a predeterminednumber of articles advanced, an oscillatable discharge, device laterallymovable relative to said feeding means for removing articles from saidsupport for inspection purposes, and cam means operable by said countingmeans after the advancement of said predetermined number of articles foractuating said discharge device.

14. In a machine for counting and feeding fiat articles, the combinationof article supplying means, feeding means for advancing said articlesfrom said article supplying means, a platform disposed in the path oftravel of said advancing articles for receivingthe articles from saidfeeding means, counting means for counting a predetermined number ofarticles received on said platform, feeding devices for removing fromsaid platform all articles constituting said counted predeterminednumber, and means connected between said platform and said countingmeans for shifting said platform periodically after the completion ofsaid count for shifting a said article from position where it is removedin a dilferent manner, it then being further advanced by said feedingmeans to permit its disposition for inspection purposes.

RALPH K. POTTLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,225,410 Clark May 8, 19171,950,302 Hansen Mar. 6, 1934 2,180,604 Staude Sept. 20, 1938 2,297,847Wilckens et a1. Oct. 6, 1942 2,359,641 Harlow Oct. 3, 1944 2,367,397Harlow Jan. 16, 1945

